The Woman in White

By: Wilkie Collins

Narrated by: Ian Holm

Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Late one moonlit night, Walter Hartright encounters a solitary and terrified woman dressed all in white. He saves her from capture by her pursuers and determines to solve the mystery of her distress and terror.

Inspired by an actual criminal case, this gripping tale of murder, intrigue, madness and mistaken identity has never been out of print since its publication and brought Collins great fame and success. Considered to be among the first mystery novels and the first and finest in the genre of 'sensation novels', The Woman in White is noted for its suspenseful plot and unique characterisation.

Collins's use of multiple narrators drew on his legal training and he states 'the story of an offence against the laws is told in Court by more than one witness'.

In 2003, Robert McCrum writing for The Observer ranked The Woman in White number 23 in the top 100 greatest novels of all time. The novel was also listed at number 77 on the BBC's survey The Big Read.

Charles Dickens was a close friend and mentor of Collins, and the two collaborated together on drama and fiction. The Woman in White, as well as some of his other work, was first published in Dickens' journals.

Narrator Biography

Sir Ian Holm, is a star of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who has played more than 100 roles in films and on television, whilst receiving a stream of awards and nominations. His television debut came as Richard III on the BBC's filmed theatrical production The Wars of the Roses (1965). One of his best-known roles is Sam Mussabini in Chariots of Fire (1981). He has also starred in The Fifth Element (1997), From Hell (2001), The Aviator (2004) and as Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. He has provided voice-overs for many television documentaries including 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth (2009), starred in the BBC's The Lord of the Rings radio dramatisations and narrated many audiobooks. In 1989 he was appointed CBE and in 1998 was knighted for his services to drama.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Wonderful Story and Narration

This is one of the best books I have ever read or listened to. Great story with narration equal in excellence to the story. I absolutely loved this book. I was sorry it ended.

Enjoyed it Immensely!!

I've been trying to read "the classics" that I never got around to in my younger years and this popped up as a suggestion. So very glad I took a chance on it. Sir Ian Holm is delightful & the story draws you in to a simpler time when a name was truly all one had to commend them (or condemn). From that perspective, the story is excellent & I highly recommend it.

Intriguing story, well told.

Great story, lots of twists and turns.
Ian Holm was a fantastic narrator of course!

beautifully written

the story is one of suspense, love, and mystery.
the art of painting pictures with words is rare in modern writing that is why I enjoy books written in the 19th century ...

What a GREAT voice to make a good story great!

Love the history behind this piece, too. Check out the wiki on it. It took me a while to catch on to the old English, but it was fun. Great listen!

An amazing journey through victorian intrigue

A most stupendous story !!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the performance. I highly recommend if you enjoy mysteries and intrigue, not just sappy love stories, which I do not enjoy myself.

Lots of twists, turns, and tension!

If only today’s writers were as good!  So many of today’s writers, revert to profanity and explicit descriptions of intimate activities that are clearly not necessary in a clever and well articulated work of fiction.  I was so captivated by and involved with the characters that at one point I had to google the ending first to make sure I could endure the it.  Very good! 

Excellent story

A bit verbose at times but an absolutely captivating tale. Highly recommend! The narrator was marvelous at building suspense and emotionally drawing in the listener.

Recommended

The depth of the story and quality of the narration. Both inspired the listener to continue to completion!

I can't believe I missed this!

As a teacher of literature with an appetite for great stories, I can't believe no one has ever recommended this novel to me. Nor can I believe it was not on a single required reading list in all of my education. it edges on Poe while weaving like Christie. The Woman in White is a truly engaging mystery, and the performance is superb.